Types of Cancer
There are dozens of different types of cancer, generally identified by the organs affected:
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Skin Cancer
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, with nearly one million people in the U.S. diagnosed with the disease. Nearly half of all Americans who reach the age of 65 will be diagnosed with skin cancer. Those who have fair skin that freckles easily, particularly those with blond or red hair and blue eyes, are most at risk. Most skin cancers are basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, with nearly 90 per cent being the former. Both of these forms of cancer grow slowly, and
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basal cell carcinoma in particular is unlikely to spread to other organs. Both are known as non-melanoma skin cancer, melanoma being a far more serious form of skin cancer. Early treatment is important to prevent spreading to adjacent healthy skin tissue. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from sunlight and other sources are the main causes of skin cancer. UV blocking sunscreen preparations with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 to 30 can be effective at reducing risk by protecting skin from the sun's harmful rays.
Prostate Cancer
The prostate is a small organ that surrounds the urethra in men, producing a part of semenal fluid. Disease of the prostate is very common among older men, affecting over 50 per cent of men over 60, and perhaps 90 per cent of men over 70, though most involve non-malignant growths or prostate enlargements known as benign hyperplasia or BPH. While not life-threatening, BPH can cause difficulty with urination frequent nocturnal urination, and erectile dysfuncion.
While most men can rejoice in BPH not being malignant, the American Cancer Society estimates that cancer of the prostate is diagnosed in nearly 200,000 men annually, with nearly 10 per cent dying of the disease within 5 years of diagnosis.
Pancreatic Cancer
The pancreas is responsible for production of insulin and other hormones that assist the body in the use and storage of energy from food. Carcinoma of the pancreas is diagnosed in about 26,000 people in the US each year. Cancer of the pancreas generally developes in the pancreatic fluid ducts, and often spreads to surrounding organs, including the stomach and small intestine, and may also travel to other parts of the body, particularly the lymph nodes, liver, lungs and bones.
Kidney Cancer
There are in excess of 28,000 kidney cancer diagnoses made in the US alone each year, making kidney cancer among the more common types of cancer, with renal cell cancer the most common form of this cancer. Kidney cancer commonly invades nearby organs, including the liver, colon and pancreas. Because the kidney's function is to filter our blood supply, kidney cancer oftern metastasizes to other more distant organs.
Bladder Cancer
Cancer of the bladder affects both men and women, but is much more prevalent in men. According to the National Cancer Institute, bladder cancer is the 4th most common form of cancer among men and the 8th most common among women, affecting approximately 38,000 men and 15,000 women annually. Risk factors for bladder cancer include use of tobacco, as well as exposure to workplace carcinogens. People working in the rubber, chemical and leather industries seem to be at risk, along with hairdressers, machinists, metal workers, printers, painters, truck drivers and textile workers.
Breast Cancer
While breast cancer is more common among women, it also can affect men.
Colon Cancer
Colon cancer occurs most commonly among men and women over the age of 50, and is linked to diets that are high in fats and low in fiber. A low-fat and high fiber diet may be the best defense against this form of cancer.
Lymphona Cancer
There are two types of cancer affectingthe lymphatic system: Hodgkins lymphoma and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Hodgkins disease is quite rare, involved in less than 1 per cent of all cancer diagnosis in the United States. The term lymphoma refers to cancers of the lymphatic system, which is a critical component of the body's immune system .
Leukemia
Leukemia originates from abnormal bone marrow cells. Leukemia is divided into two major classifications: myelogenous and lymphocytic, depending upon the cell type involved. Each of these are further classified as either acute or chronic, hence making 4 types of leukemia. The acute variety progresses rapidly and involves accumulation of malformed cells in the marrow and blood. The abundance of these non-functioning bone marrow cells prevent the production of functional red and white blood cells and platelets, resulting in a shortage of normal cells. Those suffering from a deficiency of red blood cells are said to be anemic. The shortage of white blood cells makes it difficult for the body to fight infection and disease.
Cancer of the white blood cells is commonly referred to as acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), and is characterized by continuous production of immature white blood cells called lymphoblasts in the bone marrow.
Acute myeloid leukemia or acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the myeloid blood cells.
Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a slowly progressing or dormant form of the disease.
Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) involves abnormally high accumulation of immature granulocytes called promyelocytes.
Adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a rare form of cancer infecting the immune system's T-cells, which are produced by the thymus.
Lung Cancer
Cancer of the lungs is among the most deadly forms of cancer, with nearly 90 per cent of victims dying from the disease within five years of diagnosis. Of all cancers infecting women, lung cancer accounts for more deaths than all the other forms of cancer combined.
Perhaps the greatest risk factor for development of lung cancer is exposure to inhaled carcinogens, most commonly those found in tobacco smoke.
Melanoma
Melanoma is a skin cancer involving the melanocytes, the cells of the lower epidermis responsible for production of melanin. These are the cells that give our skin its color. When exposed to the sun, melanocytes produce more pigment, giving one the highly sought-after tanning effect. Melanoma occurs when these melanocytes become malignant, and is the most serious of skin cancers. Possibly because of the thinning of the ozone layer in the atmostphere, the incidence of melanoma has seen a marked increase in recent decades. New cases of melanoma have more than doubled since the 1980s, an increase that is greater than any other type of cancer.
While melanoma is most commonly found in the skin, it can also affect the eyes or other parts of the body where melanocytes are found, including lymph nodes, the membranes that envelop the central nervous system (meninges) and the digestive tract.
Rectal Cancer
Rectal cancer is very common in both men and women, and seems to be related to high fat and low fiber diets. While it can occur at any age, most rectal cancer diagnosis is among those over 50, and rarely among teenagers.
Adrenal Cancer
Adrenal glands are on top of our kidneys and are responsible for production of hormones. They are in two parts, the cortex or outer layer and the medula or the inner section. Adrenal cancer is extremely rare, infecting perhaps one person in a million worldwide, and may be one of three types: adrenocortical carcinoma, pheocromocytoma, and neuroblastoma.
Adrenocortical carcinoma, the more common of the three, starts in the adrenal cortex. If the diseased cells are functional, symptomology would include excessive production of hormones. If non-functional the diseased cells may cause pressure on other abdominal organs, resulting in pain.
Pheochromocytoma develops in the cells that produce epinephrine and norepinephrine, and is very rare.
Neuroblastoma originates in the adrenal medulla, usually from undeveloped nerve cells of infants and young children. Symptoms include abdominal and bone pain.
Bile Duct Cancer
Our bile ducts transport bile from the liver to the small intestine to aid in the digestion of fats. The extrahepatic portion of the duct is located outside the liver, while the smaller branches of the ducts inside the liver are referred to as the intrahepatic ducts.
Bile duct cancer that starts in the extrahepatic duct is referred to as extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma, while if the cancer involves the smaller branches inside the liver, it is referred to as intrahephatic bile duct carcinoma. These rare diseases are diagnosed in only one or two people the U.S. annually.
Symptomology includes jaundice, itchy skin, weight loss, loss of appetite, fever and abdominal pain. These symptoms may also occur from blockage of the bile duct from other causes, such as passing gallstones from the gallbladder.
Bone Cancer
Most bone cancers are metastasized from other parts of the body. Cancer that originates in bone, referred to as primary bone cancer, is quite rare, involving only about 2,500 new cases per year in the US. Other cancers involving the bone are referred to as secondary bone cancer.
Osteosarcoma is the most common of the primary bone cancers, and develops in new bone tissue among adolescents and young adults between ages 10 and 25, particularly near the knees and upper arms.
Chondrosarcoma more commonly affects adults and starts in cartilage, particularly in the pelvis, upper legs and shoulders.
Plasmacytoma and multiple myeloma are forms of blood cancer that originate in the immune system and commonly metastasize to the bones, where myeloma blood plasma cells tend to collect in bone marrow and other parts of bones.
Brain Cancer
Brain tumors originating in the brain, contrasted with those that start elsewhere and spread to the brain, infect nearly 17,000 people in the U.S. annually. The most common among brain tumors start in the supportive tissue, or glial, and are referred to as gliomas. These may be one of several different types, including astrocytomas, brain stem gliomas, epenymomas or oligodendrogliomas, depending upon which brain cells are first involved. Astrocytomas most often occur in the cerebrum, the largest part of the brain, and develop from cells called astrocytes. Brain stem gliomas, as the name suggests, start in the brain stem which connects the brain to the spinal cord. Ependymomas develop in the lining of the ventricles or in the spinal cord. Oligodendrogliomas, a very rare form of brain cancer, involve the cells responsible for production of myelin, a fatty nerve insulator.
Cervical Cancer
The cervix is the lower portion of the uterus. Cancer that starts there is known as cervical cancer, and is diagnosed in approximately 15,000 American women each year. Abnormal changes in cells of the cervix, which may lead to cervical cancer, are readily detected through regular gynecological pelvic examinations and pap smears.
Esophageal Cancer
The esophagus is the tube that connects the throat, or more precisely the pharynx portion of the throat, with the stomach. This is a hollow tube of muscle and connective tissue whose function is to pass food and liquid to the stomach. Cancer that originates there is referred to as esophageal cancer, and may be divided into two major types of cancer: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. These cancers are diagnosed in approximately 12,000 new cases each year in the U.S., and are more common among men than women. Use of tobacco and heavy use of alcohol appear to be among the major risk factors for these diseases.
Squamous cell carcinomas begin in the squamous cells lining the esophagus, most commonly in the upper and middle parts of the organ.
Adenocarcinomas generally arise in the glandular tissue of the lower section of the esophagus. Gastric reflux, the chronic backing up of stomach acid, is linked to this disease. A pre-cancerous condition known as Barrett's Esophagus, where cells of this portion of the esophagus develop abnormally to resemble the cells that line the stomach, often leads to adenocarcinoma.
Gallbladder Cancer
The gallbladder, a pear-shaped organ located in the upper abdomen under the liver, is responsible for storing bile, a fluid produced by the liver and used in the digestion of fat. Cancer of the gallbladder, while rare, is three times more likely to appear in women than in men.
Gastric or Stomach Cancer
Gastric cancer, also referred to as stomach cancer because it originates in the cells of the lining of the stomach, are divided into several different types, including adenocarcinoma, leiomyosarcoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumors and lymphoma. Adenocarcinoma is further divided into type 1 and type 2. Type 1 adenocarcinoma starts in the part of the stomach closest to the small intestine, and seems to have its source in chronic infection and poor diet. Type 2 adenocarcinoma has its source in other parts of the stomach, and appears to be genetic. The other forms of gastric cancer are soft tissue sarcomas.
Stomach cancer is more prevalent in Japan, Korea, Eastern Europe and Latin America, than in the United States, possibly because residents of those areas consume foods preserved through drying, smoking, salting and pickling. Nearly 24,000 people in the US are diagnosed with stomach cancer each year. It is also more prevalent among African Americans than Caucasians, and men are twice as likely to contract the disease than women.
Stomach cancer is likely to spread or metastize to adjacent organs, including the small intestine, large intestine, the esophagus, nearby lymph nodes, the liver, and pancreas.
Intestinal Cancer
The small intestine is a long tube connecting the stomach with the large intestine, whose function is to digest foods to extract minerals, proteins, fats, carbohydrates and vitamins. It is comprised of three sections, including the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum. The duodenum is the portion of the small intestine closest to the stomach. The ileum is the other end of the small intestine closer to the colon, or large intestine. The jejunum is the part of the small intestine between the ileum and the duodenum. The small intestine is further divided into four layers of tissue, including the mucosa, the submucosa, the muscularis and the serosa, or outer layer.
Intestinal cancer may involve either of the sections or layers of the small intestine, and may include adenocarcinoma, lymphoma and sarcoma. Adenocarcinoma results from abnormal growth of the lining of the small intestine, most commonly found near the duodenum.
Laryngeal Cancer
The larynx is divided into three sections. The supraglottis section is that part of the larynx that is found above the vocal chords. The glottis section is where the vocal chords are located. The subglottis section is below the glottis section. Laryngeal cancer is cancer of the larynx, and may involve either section of the larynx.
Liver Cancer
While relatively rare in the US, liver cancer is among the most common forms of cancer in parts of Asia and Africa. Liver cancer occurs in males twice as frequently as in females. One in five liver cancers arise from the bile duct branches within the liver. Approximately one in 100 liver cancers are angiosarcomas, arising from the blood vessels in the liver. There is some evidence suggesting that excessive exposure to vinyl chloride is associated with this disease. Other risk factors for liver cancer include cirrhosis and infection with hepatitis B and hepatitis C, associated with heptaocellular carcinoma (HCC), which account for approximately two-thirds of all liver cancer. Exposure to aflatoxin, nitrosamines, oral estrogen compounds and numerous other chemicals appear related to the development of liver cancer.
Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, but its incidence is actually on the rise due to its extremely long latency period of several decades. Mesothelioma generally affects the lining of the chest or abdominal cavities, almost always associated with exposure to asbestos. It has been known to take up to 40 years following exposure for symptoms of the disease to appear, meaning that almost all sufferers of this disease are older adults. When the disease starts in the pleural lining of the chest cavity it is referred to as pleural mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma involves infection of the lining of the abdominal cavity. Pericarial mesotheloma involves the lining around the heart. While extremely rarely, mesothelioma has also been known to involve the lining around the testicles.
Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is a hematological malignancy where cancerous myeloma cells accumulate to form tumors in multiple bones. This condition is also called Kahler's disease after the Austrian physician who identified it in the late 1800s. A similar condition where only one bone is infected is called plasmacytoma. While these diseases are found in the bones, they actually originate in blood plasma cells, a part of the body's immune system. Multiple myeloma is relatively rare, accounting for about one case of cancer in one hundred, and approximately 20 per cent of all blood related cancers. It is more common among blacks than caucasions, and more common in men than women. The incidence of the disease varies widely from one country to another, affecting one person in 100,000 in China, and only 1 in 400,000 in industrialized Western countries. In the United States, multiple myeloma is diagnosed in about 13,500 people each year. It appears that exposure to petroleum products, solvents, heavy metals and pesticides increase the risk of contracting this disease, along with exposure to atomic radiation.
Oral Cancer
Cancer of the oral cavity may involve the lips, the buccal mucosa or lining of the mouth inside the cheeks, the gums, teeth, the tongue or area below the tongue, the hard palate roof of the mouth, or salivary glands. Tobacco products, particularly chewing tobacco, have been linked to the development of oral cancers, along with smoking and excessive use of alcohol.
Pharyngeal Cancer
The pharynx is the tube that leads from behind the nose, down the neck, ending at the top of the trachea. Pharyngeal cancer is a cancer that has its source in this part of the body.
Testicular Cancer
Cancer of the testicles is quite rare, infecting an estimated 8,000 men in the US annually. The disease is most common among young men between puberty and mid thirties, though it can affect other ages as well. Caucasians are more likely to contract testicular cancer than hispanics, blacks or asians. The incidence of testicular cancer has risen in the past 40 years, but the cure rate has dramatically improved since the 1970s. At that time mortality from the disease was near 90 per cent. At the present time the cure rate is nearly 90 per cent. Early attention to symptoms and diagnosis is critical. Symptomology includes hardening or change in size of a testicle, pain, and even discovery of painless lumps. Those with a history of an undescended testicle are at increased risk of developing testicular cancer.
Uterine Cancer
Cancer of the uterus may appear in two main forms, endometrial cancer uterine sarcoma. Endometrial cancer involves the inner lining of the uterus, or endometrium. Uterine sarcoma, a far less common type of uterine cancer, involves the muscular layer of the uterus, or myometrium.
These are distinct from cancers affecting the lower portion, or opening of the uterus, called the cervix. Cervical cancer is diagnosed and treated differently. For example, the pap smear test is used to diagnose cervical cancer by examination of cells from the lower portion of the uterus (cervix), but this test is largely ineffective at catching cancers of the upper portion of the uterus.
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer is very common, with more than 23,000 women diagnosed with this disease annually in the US. The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance estimates that one out of every 57 women in the US will contract ovarian cancer. There are three types of ovarian cancer, epithelial carcinoma, germ-cell tumors, and stromal tumors. Epithelial carcinoma involves the outher surface of the ovary. Germ-cell tumors involve the egg-producing cells. Stromal tumors involve the supportive tissue around the ovaries. It is common for ovarian cancer to metastasize to other organs through the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
Ovarian cancer, commonly called malignant ovarian neoplasm, is an abnormal growth on the ovaries. There are three main types of ovarian cancer, including germ cell ovarian cancer, stromal tumors, and epithelial tumors.
Germ cell ovarian cancer involves the cells which produce the ova or egg cells.
Stromal tumors involve the connective tissue of the ovary.
The most common form of ovarian cancer, and the most difficult to diagnose, is the epithelial type, which starts in the cells of the outer surface of the ovary. Epithelial ovarian cancer is a leading cause of death among women because the disease is usually well advanced by the time it is diagnosed, and has often already spread to surrounding tissue. Ovarian cancers commonly shed malignant cells into the fluid of the abdominal cavity, where they easily travel to other organs Early diagnosis, which is difficult to obtain due to non-specific symptomology, is critical for survival.
Vaginal Cancer
The vagina is the passageway connecting the cervix and the vulva, the folds of skin found at the opening of the vagina. Relatively rare, cancer of the vagina may be one of two types: squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The sqamous cell type of vaginal cancer generally affects older women, over age 60. The adenocarcinoma type is more commonlly found in women between puberty and age 30. Regular pelvic examinations and Pap smear tests are important in the identification of cancerous cells in the vagina and cervix.
Vulvar Cancer
The vulva is the outer portion of the vagina. Cancer of the vulva is most common among older women. Regular self-examination and gynecological pelvic exams are recommended for the early detection of abnormal growths or lesions. Symptomology may include constant itching and changes in the color or appearance of the vulva.
Other Cancer
According to the National Cancer Institute, nearly 1.2 million Americans are diagnosed with some form of cancer each year. Any part of the body is subject to abnormal cellular division and uncontrolled growth. When this occurs, the tumor or growth may either be benign or malignant. Any abnormal growth should be examined without delay, as the greatest opportunity for successful treatment is always at the earliest stages. One need not be overly concerned just because such a growth becomes apparent, as most are benign and not life threatening. Nevertheless, it is always best to err on the side of caution. Consult a physician as soon as you detect or suspect abnormal growths anywhere in your body.
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What is Cancer?
Types of Cancer
Effects of Nutrition and Diet on Cancer
Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Cancer
Effects of Beta-Carotene on Cancer
Effects of Sexually Transmitted Diseaes and Cervical Cancer
Avoiding Cancer
Skin Cancer
Prostate Cancer
Ovarian Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer
Kidney Cancer
Bladder Cancer
Breast Cancer
Colon Cancer
Lymphona Cancer
Leukemia
Lung Cancer
Melanoma
Rectal Cancer
Adrenal Cancer
Bile Duct Cancer
Bone Cancer
brain Cancer
Cervical Cancer
Esophageal Cancer
Gallbladder Cancer
Gastric or Stomach Cancer
Intestinal Cancer
Laryngeal Cancer
Liver Cancer
Mesothelioma
Multiple Myeloma
Oral Cancer
Pharyngeal Cancer
Testicular Cancer
Uterine Cancer
Vaginal Cancer
Vulvar Cancer
Other Cancer
Articles
Mesothelioma Forms and Symptoms
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